Northern Lakes Senior Living in Baxter, MN

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  • Interior

    A cozy lounge area featuring comfortable seating, a bookshelf filled with books, and warm lighting.
  • Outdoors

    Children tending to a raised flower bed outdoors.
  • Decor

    A cozy and elegantly decorated bedroom featuring a comfortable bed, two armchairs, and natural light streaming through the window.
  • Building

    Aerial view of a commercial building with a spacious parking lot, surrounded by autumn foliage.
  • Architecture

    A modern residential building with a well-maintained lawn and outdoor seating area.
  • Trees

    A serene outdoor patio setting with blue chairs and tables, surrounded by lush greenery.
  • Landscaping

    A beautiful residential complex featuring modern architecture and well-maintained landscaping.
  • Lighting

    A modern lobby featuring elegant furniture and a stunning stone wall, creating a welcoming atmosphere.
  • Bathroom

    A clean and accessible bathroom featuring a toilet, sink, and grab bars.
  • Park

    A group of seniors sitting and relaxing at a table outdoors.
  • Stone Wall

    Two staff members posing together in a welcoming indoor setting.

Northern Lakes Senior Living in Baxter, MN

Northern Lakes Senior Living is an assisted living and memory care community in Baxter, MN.

Information last verified:

8186 Excelsior Road, Baxter, MN 56425

For more information about senior living options: (866) 208-4318

4.3 from 25 reviews
5 stars
19
4 stars
2
3 stars
0
2 stars
1
1 stars
3

Overall Review of Northern Lakes Senior Living

common 19 reviews mention this

Staff warmth comes up often

Residents and families repeatedly describe the staff as warm, friendly, and professional.

Across the reviews, residents and visitors describe staff members who are caring, kind, and responsive during visits and day-to-day interactions. Several people also mention clear communication and helpfulness when it comes to comfort and activities. A small number of reviews are sharply negative about care follow-through, staffing quality, and how personal care is handled, including concerns raised specifically in the memory care setting.

common 6 reviews mention this

Meals are a frequent highlight

Dining and meal quality are consistently discussed in a positive way.

Multiple reviews praise the food and describe restaurant-style meals, including alternatives when a resident doesn’t like what’s on the menu. Some reviewers also mention practical meal routines like meals being delivered and snack carts coming around. One review criticizes meal-related charges, but most comments focus on the quality of dining and the way meals are handled.

common 6 reviews mention this

Activities keep residents engaged

Residents describe a steady flow of activities and community outings.

Reviews frequently mention scheduled activities, resident participation, and staff-supported programming in shared spaces. Several people also call out outings and trips—such as excursions on a facility bus—and ongoing engagement even during disruptive periods. One negative review says the dementia unit is harder to meet residents’ needs, but the broader set of comments describe an active daily experience.

common 8 reviews mention this

Facility feels clean and well kept

The building and common areas are described as clean, attractive, and comfortable.

Many reviewers describe the facility as beautiful, clean, and well maintained, with appealing common spaces and amenities. People mention features like a library and outdoor grounds that make visits feel more comfortable. Alongside the positive impressions, a couple of critical reviews raise concerns about care execution and safety checks, which contrasts with the otherwise positive environment comments.

differentiator 4 reviews mention this

Arboretum access stands out

Reviews repeatedly point to nearby trail access from the property.

Several visitors highlight the arboretum just behind the community as part of why the area feels pleasant and easy to get outside. A few reviews connect that proximity to enjoyable walks and outdoor time without complicated routes. Residents and families still describe different experiences overall, but the outdoors access is a recurring positive detail.

caveat 2 reviews mention this

Memory care needs more support

Some reviewers say the dementia unit’s needs aren’t consistently met.

Two reviews raise concerns tied to the dementia or memory care setting, including difficulties meeting needs and problems with care being carried out as expected. One of these comments also points to falls and basic care follow-through, while the other describes difficulty supporting patients in the dementia unit. These are a minority of the overall reviews, but they are specific enough to stand out.

How we summarize

Counts show how many written reviews mention each theme; a review can touch several themes, and only frequently mentioned themes become a section.

Features

Housing

  • 85 resident community capacity 85 resident community capacity

Types of Care

  • Assisted Living Assisted Living
  • Independent Living Independent Living
  • Memory Care Memory Care

Amenities

  • Air-conditioning Air-conditioning
  • Beauty salon Beauty salon
  • Cable or satellite TV Cable or satellite TV
  • Computer center Computer center
  • Dining room Dining room
  • Fitness room Fitness room
  • Fully furnished Fully furnished
  • Gaming room Gaming room
  • Garden Garden
  • Housekeeping services Housekeeping services
  • Kitchenette Kitchenette
  • Move-in coordination Move-in coordination
  • Outdoor space Outdoor space
  • Private bathrooms Private bathrooms
  • Restaurant-style dining Restaurant-style dining
  • Small library Small library
  • Telephone Telephone
  • Wellness center Wellness center
  • Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available Wi-Fi/high-speed internet available

Transportation

  • Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional (5 miles away) Brainerd-Crow Wing County Regional (5 miles away)
  • Community operated transportation Community operated transportation
  • Transportation arrangement Transportation arrangement
  • Transportation arrangement (non-medical) Transportation arrangement (non-medical)

Care Services

  • 12-16 hour nursing 12-16 hour nursing
  • 24-hour call system 24-hour call system
  • 24-hour supervision 24-hour supervision
  • Activities of daily living assistance Activities of daily living assistance
  • Assistance with bathing Assistance with bathing
  • Assistance with dressing Assistance with dressing
  • Assistance with transfers Assistance with transfers
  • Coordination with health care providers Coordination with health care providers
  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Meal preparation and service Meal preparation and service
  • Medication management Medication management
  • Mental wellness program Mental wellness program
  • Mild cognitive impairment Mild cognitive impairment
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions
  • Specialized memory care programming Specialized memory care programming
  • Transportation arrangement (medical) Transportation arrangement (medical)
  • Transportation to doctors appointments Transportation to doctors appointments

Dining

  • Diabetes diet Diabetes diet
  • Special dietary restrictions Special dietary restrictions

Activities

  • Community-sponsored activities Community-sponsored activities
  • Concierge services Concierge services
  • Fitness programs Fitness programs
  • Planned day trips Planned day trips
  • Resident-run activities Resident-run activities
  • Scheduled daily activities Scheduled daily activities

Nearby Places of Interest

Parks

  • Northland Arboretum (0.2 miles)
  • Berrywood Park (1 miles)
  • Kiwanis Park (1.3 miles)
  • Baxter Park (2.5 miles)
  • Kart Kountry (4.2 miles)
  • Brainerd Region Geological Marker (6.7 miles)
  • East Gull Lake Tennis Courts (6.8 miles)

Restaurants

  • China Garden (0.2 miles)
  • Burger King (0.4 miles)
  • Wendy's (0.6 miles)
  • McDonald's (0.6 miles)
  • Taco Bell (0.7 miles)
  • Black Bear Lodge & Saloon (0.9 miles)
  • 371 Diner (1 miles)

Physicians

  • Midwest Family Eye Center (0.3 miles)
  • Brainerd Va Outpatient Clinic (0.4 miles)
  • Accucare Audiology & Hearing Solutions (0.5 miles)
  • S Sjoberg PLC (0.5 miles)
  • Convenient Care Clinic (0.7 miles)
  • Dermatology Professionals (1.2 miles)
  • MRO Brainerd Radiation Therapy Center (1.2 miles)

Pharmacies

  • Super One Foods (0.4 miles)
  • CVS Pharmacy (0.6 miles)
  • Walgreens (0.7 miles)
  • Service Drug (0.7 miles)
  • Walmart Pharmacy (1.3 miles)
  • Guidepoint Pharmacy (1.4 miles)
  • Thrifty Nystrom Drug (1.6 miles)

Cafes

  • Stonehouse Coffee (0.7 miles)
  • Caribou Coffee (1.2 miles)
  • Coco Moon (1.4 miles)
  • Knotty Pine Bakery (1.5 miles)
  • Wings Airport Cafe (4.9 miles)

Transportation

  • Enterprise Rent-A-Car (0.9 miles)
  • Executive Express (0.9 miles)
  • Lakes Express (2 miles)

Places of Worship

  • Heritage Assembly of God (1 miles)
  • Pointway Church (1.5 miles)
  • First Presbyterian Church (1.6 miles)
  • Oak Street Chapel (1.8 miles)
  • St Andrews Church (2 miles)
  • Lake Area Christian Church (2.2 miles)
  • Evangelical Good Samaritan (2.2 miles)

Hospitals

  • Essentia Health-St. Joseph's Medical Center (1.2 miles)
  • Community Behavioral Health (1.3 miles)
  • Allina Health (1.5 miles)
  • Brainerd Medical Center (2.2 miles)
  • Brainerd Lakes Integrated Health System (2.2 miles)

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Northern Lakes Senior Living?
Does Northern Lakes Senior Living provide care for residents with dementia or Alzheimer's disease?
What photos are available for Northern Lakes Senior Living in Baxter, Minnesota?

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Related Resources

  • dementia careA Holistic Dementia Care Guide: Effective Strategies for Memory Support

    The guide on holistic dementia care outlines the complexity of dementia and stresses the need for individualized caregiver strategies that include medical treatment, psychological support, and environmental adaptations, while emphasizing early detection, various therapeutic options, and caregiver support to enhance quality of life and maintain dignity.

  • dementia careMemory Care Pathways: A Holistic Guide to Dementia Support

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  • sundown syndromeComprehending Evening Confusion in Dementia: Causes, Manifestations, and Support

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